Barre, Vt.
Daniel P. Brunelle, 49, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in Washington County criminal court in Barre to two misdemeanor counts of domestic assault. If convicted, Brunelle faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
According to his affidavit filed with the court, Officer Joseph Carriveau of the Berlin Police Department received a report on Tuesday night that a physical domestic disturbance had occurred on Junction Road. He went to the residence and found Brunelle across the street from a home mowing the lawn. Brunelle told Carriveau he was in the process of getting a divorce.
Carriveau talked with Brunelle’s wife, whom he described as emotional and crying. She told him of an incident on Saturday in which she said Brunelle slammed her into the refrigerator, causing her pain. They were arguing about the divorce at the time.
The woman gave police a sworn statement about what occurred on Tuesday. She said they had argued and Brunelle went outside to mow the lawn. About half an hour later, she went outside to talk with him and they started arguing again. She told police Brunelle shoved her to the ground and walked away.
Carriveau said Brunelle denied shoving his wife to the ground or into the refrigerator a few days prior. He told police he had an audio recording of the incident that occurred on Saturday.
In court on Wednesday, Washington County State’s Attorney Scott Williams requested a condition of release be put in place saying that Brunelle could not carry a gun. Brunelle’s attorney, Jon Valsangiacomo, argued that Brunelle needs a gun to do his job.
Williams argued that there were allegations of escalating behavior that resulted in two separate assaults.
“And as a (police) chief, we don’t know, you have no evidence as to whether he has to carry a gun or not. Is he out on patrol? Some chiefs that I know, it’s optional. They don’t carry guns around because they choose not to,” he said.
Judge John Pacht said state law requires the court to impose the least restrictive conditions necessary to ensure the safety of the community. Pacht said he has chosen not to impose a “no gun” restriction on past misdemeanor domestic cases, which was what he chose to do on Wednesday.
After the hearing, Valsangiacomo said neither he nor his client had any comment about the case.
When asked if this case was difficult for him because he works closely with law enforcement officers, Williams said he was called by an investigating officer while police were investigating this case. The officer told him they had a domestic case involving another police officer. Williams said he told the officer not to take into account the position and to treat it like any other case.
“I’ve always told Washington County officers, even before I got elected, ‘I’ve got your back as long as your back deserves to be gotten,’ ” Williams said.
Brunelle was hired by officials in Randolph in May after serving 19 years on the South Burlington police force. In May 2014, the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services presented Brunelle with its “Ally” award for dedication and long-term commitment to preventing domestic violence and making a difference for victims of crime.
Brunelle also has served as a member of the Chittenden County Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force.
Randolph Selectboard Chairwoman Trini Brassard said everyone is innocent until proven guilty and the legal system will take its course. Brassard said the town has put Brunelle on paid administrative leave until the hearing later this month.
“And we’ll evaluate where (the case) is at at that point,” she said.
Brassard said the board has every confidence in its decision to hire Brunelle.
“He’s a good guy,” she said.